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Kenya: Zain Kenya upgrades network to cope with increased traffic |
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Wednesday, 14 January 2009 |
Nairobi, 14 January 2009: Zain Kenya has commissioned extra transmission sites countrywide following an 85% rise in its subscriber base over the last three months. Announcing this, Managing Director Mr. Rene Meza said 65 new base transceiver stations (BTS) sites have been switched on to boost the existing capacity in highly populated areas at a cost of KES1.3bn. “In the near future competition in the telecommunications industry will not be dictated by price but the network quality and service provision. Consequently the investment on our network is a key priority and a driver to our success,” said Mr. Meza. “Today Zain Kenya is the mobile operator of choice for more than 50% of new mobile phone customers and we have to offer them a reliable and affordable service at all times,” Mr. Meza added.
The network rollout and upgrading project is part of a KES25bn network upgrade programme aimed at improving the quality of Zain’s network especially in rural areas and high traffic areas. The project is expected to be concluded over the next two years. The initial phase of the programme will see Zain establish an extra 102 base transceiver stations mainly in upper Eastern, North Coast and Nyanza provinces. Said Mr. Meza: “Today we are enjoying the widest reach in Kenya covering 88% of the population .As we expand our reach, we will ensure that we do not compromise on the quality of our services.” Since its inception, Zain Kenya has invested over KES32bn in capital expenditure.
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